Back To Reality,

Sadly, my trip to DC is over.  It was well spent and I saw Azima along the way.  A list of events:

• Tour of Congress and Capital Hill
• Walking up to the Supreme Court
  
• Halloween party in the Dupont district
• Caps vs. Blue Jackets hockey game (with overtime!)
• Walking among the monuments at night (including the Lincoln Memorial information center)
• Shoe shopping
• Krispy Kreme donuts and McDonald's chicken nuggets (2 months in the making)
• Warm jackets in cold weather
• Getting "scolded" by the "Poto-mac" River

I had a great couple of days, but it reminds me that I miss home and I need to get back soon.  I landed in SXM and part of me wanted to turn around and head back.  I miss being in the States, even if it's not in California.  I feel a little closer when I'm back.

Being in DC also helped remind me of the great history of this country and the men (and women) who helped shape and evolved this country.  I was reminded of the power behind its founding documents.  Sadly, all of this sits in contrast to modern-day politics.  I'm so proud of the foundation and ideals which the country was founded upon and somewhat disillusioned by the current state of affairs.

We have resided to sounds bites and conspiracy theories.  Although both sides can be held accountable, I can't but think the Neo-Con movement helped drive the discourse of today.  They removed debate and logic and replaced it with a screaming, crying voice and appeals to emotion.  It has worked for this up until this point, but I think its quickly becoming a dying brand of politics and may have met its end.

I believe that Pres. Obama truly wants to change the discourse in Washington, but the entrenched playmakers will continue to make that very difficult.  I understand his want to extent an olive branch, but it seems like people will not change.